Southington teen charged in sexual assault at high school graduation party in June

SOUTHINGTON - A local teenager turned himself in on Monday in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a young girl at a graduation party last June.

Dilan Howard, 19, of 224 Lawncrest Drive, has been accused of having sex with a girl who was so intoxicated that she had blacked out, according to court documents.

Howard was charged Monday with one count each of second-degree sexual assault and sale or delivery of alcohol to a minor. The warrant in the sexual assault case has been ordered sealed by a judge, but the affidavit connected to the alcohol-related case provides some insight into what happened the night of the allegations.

According to the three-page document, Howard, who was 18 years old at the time, two-16-year-olds and a 17-year-old were driven by an 18-year-old friend to a house party on Pleasant Street, where some teens were celebrating their graduation from Southington High School. Earlier in the evening, the 18-year-old driver had bought a handle of Captain Morgan rum from someone.

During the party, the rum was left in a book bag outside the home, to hide it from the parents who were hosting the gathering. Throughout the party, the 18-year-old went out to the book bag several times and filled a soft drink cup or a water bottle with rum. He then shared it with Howard and a 16-year-old girl, the warrant said.

The girl later told police she believes she drank about 10 ounces of straight rum in an hour’s time. During the evening, she recalled asking Howard if he was trying to get her drunk, to which he replied, “yes,” according to the warrant.

The girl said she got so drunk that she eventually blacked out. She later woke up in the backseat of a vehicle with Howard, she told police. She was so drunk she couldn’t stand up without being helped. The girl told police that Howard told her they had had sex in the car, according to the warrant.

The warrant also said some of the girl’s family members had shown up to the party, looking for her, and saw her getting out of the vehicle with Howard.

Howard was arraigned Monday in Bristol Superior Court. Officials during the hearing said he has no previous criminal history. He was issued a protective order that, among other things, bars him from contacting the complainant, going to her home or coming within 100 yards of her.

During the hearing, state prosecutor Ronald Dearstyne said there are “some issues that have to be addressed” in the sexual assault warrant. He did not elaborate.

Following the arraignment, Howard posted $5,500 bond. He is due back in court on March 28.

Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.